Vladimir Znatkov

NOVOSIBIRSK, March 27. /ITAR-TASS/. Novosibirsk regional court on Thursday allowed acting Mayor Vladimir Znatkov, a member of the ruling United Russia party, to run in Novosibirsk mayoral election.

On March 19, Russia's former Minister of Economics Ivan Starikov, a mayoral election candidate, demanded in a legal action that Znatkov withdraw from participation in the election because he had used his office position as leverage.

Znatkov was barred from the election by a district court ruling on March 21.

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However, the regional court overrode the ruling on Thursday, March 27. Starikov's representative Vitta Vladimirova said she would lodge an appeal with the presidium of the regional court.

Ivan Kokorev, a lawyer at Znatkov's election headquarters described the legal tiff as "a misunderstanding due to incorrect interpretation of legislation." "Mr Znatkov is not supposed to be on election-related leave, as the Russian Election Commission confirmed," Kokorev said.

Novosibirsk residents will elect the new mayor in one round of voting on April 1.